Closing tool



July 30, i940.

R. H. MELRATH 2,209,892

. CLOSING TOOL Filed March 30, 1936 Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATE CLOSING`TOL Richard H. Melrath, Drexel Hill, Pa., assignor, by

mesne assignments,

Manufacturing Co., Inc., New

corporation of Illinois to American Flange &

York, N. Y., a

Application March 30, 1936, serial No. 71,631

Claims.

My invention relates to anew and useful closing tool for the sealing caps of container bungs such as those used in connection with metal` drums or barrels, and has for one of its Aobjects to produce an exceedingly simple and effective tool of this character which will be strong and durable.

Another object of this invention is to produce a closing tool in which the jaws are moved toward their closed positions, against the actions of springs, by lever handles through the medium of a cam sleeve, said springs causing the jaws to open and the other parts to return to their neutral positions.

A further object of the present invention is to construct a closing tool consisting of a cylindrical body having an exterior circumferential groove, several jaws provided with extensions slidably mounted in the groove of the vbody said jaws being urged outwardly by springs and forced inwardly by a cam sleeve which is moved longitudinally over the body and jaws by lever handles, said cam sleeves assisting in holding the jaws in place.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of the details `of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of aY closing tool constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section thereof just forward of the lever handles with the parts in a neutral or open position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view in a closed position and illustrating the manner 0f attaching a sealing cap over a bung and to a barrel or drum flange.

Fig. 4 is a bottom end or plan view of the tool' without the operating mechanism.

Fig, 5 is a top plan view of the tool, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one ofthe jaws.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied IIJ represents a cylindrical body having an exterior circumferential groove II adjacent its lower end and that portion of said body below the groove is 0f less diameter than the upper part thereby providing a clamp or anvil I2 of -substantially the same size as the sealing caps with which it is toy be used. In order to lighten the weight of the tool, the upper end of the body bore is larger in diameter than the lower end. A pair of posts I3 project upwardly from the top of the body and are located diametrically opposite each other, These posts are preferably Vformed integral the bodyalthough nov such limitation, is intended. n A plurality of jaws I4, arcuate in plan, sur,- round the body and are mounted on said body bythe extensions I5, which protrude from the inner` faces at the tops thereof and project into the groove II for radial sliding movement. `The ends Aof, the jaws converge toward the inner faces thereof so that when the several jaws are in closed 4positions a true circle is produced with thefaces of all jaws flush. In eifect each jaw is a segment of a cone whereby the outer face in addition to being convexly curved longitudinally is also inclined or tapered inwardly and upwardly to provide what I term a cam surfacek IB. Each jaw is also cut away to form a shoulder II adapted to engage a preformed ledge on a sealing cap, and a lip I8 to turn the skirt ofsaid cap under the rim of a barrel or drum flange and thereby securely fasten said sealing cap over a bung and to the flange.

The jaws I4 are urged outwardly by springs I9, preferably one. for eachv jaw, having their outer ends set in sockets 2B formed in sai-d jaws, more particularly in theextensions I5, and their 'inner ends engaging the body within the groove vI-I.- Said jaws I4 are simultaneously forced inward againstthe action of said springs by the flaredfcuif ZI of the cam sleeve 22 which is'slidably mounted on the upper part ofthe body I0 `and the taper of the cui 2| is the sameas the outer facesrof the jaws I4. It might be well to state at this point that the taper of said jaws 'andvcui is suchthat the force exerted by the springs will, through the medium of the` jaws, `causethe cam sleeve to move to a retracted position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.` The cuff of the cam sleeve isy neve-r disengaged from the jaws, except toI dismantle the tool, and therefore re,- tainssaidjaws on the body. A. pair ofears 23 are carried by the cam sleeve 22 and are located at diametrically opposite positions to bein alignment with the posts I3. .To these ears are pivoted the lower ends of links 24 by any suitable means 25 and the upper ends of said links are pivoted adjacent the inner `ends' of the `lever handles 26, within bifurcate-d portions thereof, -by the use of convenient means Z'Ik and said lever handles 26 are pivoted atv their yinner ends to the posts 'I3 by means 28.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a portion of a barrel or drum wall 29 with a flange element 30 secured thereto and av bung 3| screwed into said vflange element. Asealing cap32 is placed over the bung 3| and includes a crown 33 enclosing the 'outer or exposed part Vof said bung, a ledge 34 that rests on the exposed facey of the iiange element and a shirt to be turned under the 'rim of said flangeelement.

The operation is as follows: With the jaws of the tool expanded or open, as shown in Fig. 2, said tool is placed over the sealingcap until the clamp or anvil I 2 rests on the crown Vof the sealing cap which latter has been positioned over the bung, and so that the shoulder I 'I rests on the ledge 34 of said cap. The lever handles 26 are then moved apart to transmit motion through the links 24 to the cam sleeve 22 causing the latter to slide along the tool body I0. The sliding of the cam sleeve will move the cam cuff 2| over the jaws I4 to contract or close said jaws along radial lines whereb-y the lips I8 will draw the edge of the sealing cap skirt 35 under the rim of the ange element thus xing the sealing cap in place. This contracting movement, as seen from Fig. 3, is limited by the inner faces of the jaws I4 engaging the extending reduced portion I2, this portion acting to positively stop the jaws after a predetermined movement, thus protecting the jaw parts against undue strain as well preventing the exertion of pressure on the closure beyond a certain point. Due to vthe engagement of the clamping portion I2 with the crown and the shoulder I1 with the ledge of the cap at the time the edge of the skirt is closed or turned in, the walls of the cap are retained in a smooth condition and wrinkling is positively prevented. As the jaws of the tool are closed or contracted, the tension. of the springs will be increased so that when the lever handles are released said springs will urge said jaws outward and cause the cam sleeve to retract thereby returning all parts to a neutral position ready for subsequent operations.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:

1. A tool for applying seal caps to container closures comprising a tubular mounting member having a reduced portion, jaw members surrounding said mounting member, and means for mounting said jaw members on said reduced portion of mounting member for radial movement with respect to the axis thereof, said means comprising a peripheral slot having rigid parallel side walls formed in said reduced portion and inwardly extending ledges on said jaw members, said ledges being formed to engage said slot, spring means for urging said jaws to outward position and slidable collar means carried by said mounting member for engaging the outside of said jaws and urging the sameto inward closed position.

2. In a closing tool, a body member, a continuous peripheral mounting slot formed in said body member, jaw members about said body member, lip means on said jaw members for engaging and crimping a cap skirt and laterally extending ledge means on said jaw members, said ledge means being of substantial thickness and being substantially coextensive with the width of said jaw members, said ledge means being slidably mounted in said body member slot for mounting said jaw members for radial to and fro movement, whereby a rugged but readily movable mounting is provided, said ledge means being spaced from said lip means, means engaging the base of said slot and said ledge means to slidably expand said jaw members, means acting on said jaw members and body member for imparting a slidable contracting movement to said jaw members and positive stop means engaging said vjaw members betweeny said ledgeand lip means to stop the contraction of said jaw members at a predetermined point.

3. A tool for applying seal caps to container closures, comprising a circular mounting member, a sealing member comprising a plurality of jaw members and means for mounting said sealing member on said mounting member comprising a circular, peripheral slot having rigid side walls parallel throughout formed in said mounting member and projecting ledge means formed movement thereof and act as a positive stop against too great contraction, resilient means engaging said jaw members above the stop engaging position thereof for urging said jaw members to expanded position and means carried by said mounting member and engaging said jaw members for moving the same to contracted position.

4. A tool for applying seal caps to container lclosures, comprising a circular body member having a circular, peripheral slot formed therearound, jaw members having lip means for engaging and crimping a cap skirt and ledge means for mounting said jaw members on said body member, said lip means and ledge means being spaced from one another, said ledge means being received in said peripheral slot for mounting said jaw members about said body member for contracting and expanding movement, said body member having a portion extending below said peripheral slot and engaging said jaw members on predetermined contracting movement of the same to act as apositive stop to prevent undue contraction of said jaw members, resilient means engaging said jaw members above the stop engaging position thereof to urge said jaw members into expanded position and means movably carried by said body member and engaging said jaw members on the outside thereof to force said jaw members into contracting position.

5. In a tool for applying seal caps to container closures, an elongated tubular body member having a peripheral slot formed therearound, a closing member comprising a plurality of closing member elements mounted for radial movement from expanded to contracted position about said body member by means of said peripheral slot, means for moving said closing member to contracted position carried by said body member, said last-named means having a portion slidable on said body member and another portion engaging said closing member elements for actuating the same, the portion of said tubular body member below said peripheral slot being of re- -duced diameter from the rest of said tubular body member and said reduced portion being engaged by said closing member elements on predetermined contraction of the same to act as a positive stop to prevent damaging contraction oi saidv closing member elements.

, RICHARD H. MELRA'IH. 

